SB 1318 Summary

• Requires animal pounds and shelters to make reasonable efforts to avoid euthanizing adoptable animals and establishes standards defining adoptable animals as those 8 weeks or older without behavioral defects, disease, or serious health conditions.

• Mandates pounds and shelters maintain accurate records for at least 3 years on each animal taken in, including date, circumstances, medical treatment provided, and final disposition.

• Establishes procedures for lost and found animals, requiring pounds and shelters to provide posting capabilities online or in-person, access to other postings, and contact information for other facilities and volunteer groups.

• Allows pounds to release impounded animals to county-approved nonprofit rescue or adoption organizations before destruction (except for animals with irremediable suffering or disease) and permits assessment of fees not to exceed adoption fees.

• Adds probation provision allowing courts to prohibit persons convicted of animal cruelty from owning animals and declares the legislature's goal to end euthanasia of adoptable and treatable animals by 2020.